Barrel stop for breakdown firearms



Dec. 23, 1930. F. F. BURTON BARREL STOP FOR BREAKDOWN FIREARMS Filed Dec. 3, 1929 Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED FRANK r. BURTON, F MOUNT CARMEL, CONNECTICUT, AssIeNon To WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, on NEW HAVEN, CCNNECTICUT, A ConroRATIoN OF DELAWARE BARREL STOP FOR BREAKDOWNFIREARMS Application filed December 3, 1929. Serial No. 411,237.

This invention relates to an improvement in barrel-stops for breakdown firearms and has for one of its objects the provision of a barrel-stop of the type referred to which will minimize the need for excessively accurate fitting of the parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a barrel-stop which will function continuously with the minimum of wear, so that the angle which the barrel-unit will assume when broken down with respect to the frame and butt-stock unit will be substantially the same throughout a long period of service.

A further object of my invention is to provide a barrel-stop of a type which will require, for its accommodation, the minimum cutting away of the metal of the frame, whereby the said frame may be of such size and form as to be both light and symmetrical and still possess an adequate margin of strength. 7

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in a barrel-stop for breakdown firearms having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken view, partly in side elevation and partly in central longitudinal section, of a double-barrel shotgun equipped with my improved barrel-stop Fig; 2 is a corresponding View with the barrel-unit shown in its broken-down position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a broken top or plan view of the frame; and I Fig. 5 is an enlarged-scale detached perspective view of the floating barrel-stop-bar.

The embodiment of my invention herein chosen for illustration is shown as installed in a 'double-barreled breakdown shotgun,

though it is obvious that the use of my invention is not so limited, since it may be em ployed in connection 1 with other types of breakdown firearms.

The shotgunrcomprises-the usual framebody 10 formed at its bottom-edge with a forward extension 11 which in turn is formed with a longitudinal vertically-arranged slot or passage 12 closed at its bottom-end by the forward end of a trigger-plate 13 having a trigger-guard 14 within the looped form of which a pair of triggers 15 are located The frame 10, as is usual in firearm construction, is secured to the forward end of a butt-stock 16 in any approved manner.

To provide for. pivoting the barrel-unit, which comprises in the main a pair of barrels 17 and 18 and a fore end 19. I provide a transverse trunnion-pin 20 which extends across the slot 12 in the extension 11 of the frame-body 10 and is supportedinthe opposite sidewalls thereof, This pin is partly embedded, so to speak, in the forward wall of the'slot 12 but has the major portion of its circumference rearwardly exposed within the forward end of the said slot, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The barrel-unit, comprising the barrels 17 and 18 and the the fore end 19, as well as other incidental features not shown, is formed centrally in its underside with a longitudinallyarranged depending lug 21 adapted to fit within the slot 12 of the frame-body 10, as clearly shown-inFigs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The forward end of the lug 21 is formed with a forwardly-facing substantially-semicircular notch 22 adapted to rock upon the trunnion-pin 20 before referred to.

The lower forward corner of the extension 11 of the frame-body 10 is rounded oil, as at 23, concentrically with the trunnion-pin 20, so that the fore end-shoe 24 of the fore end 19 will snugly fit against the frame-body 10 in all positions of the barrel unit in its swinging movement with respect to the said framebody; the rear face of the said shoe being formed, as shown, with a cylindrically-contoured concave surface 25 conforming to the curvature of the surface 23 of the extension 11 and resulting in the formation of'a relativelysharp terminal 26. i

For the purpose of limiting the breakdown movement of the barrel-unit with respect to the frame-body 10, I employa floating barrelstopi-bar 27 which is cylindrical in cross-section and is formed at its respective opposite ends with notches 28 and 29 respectively resulting in the formation of upwardly-facing stop-shoulders 30'and 31.

The barrel-stop-bar 27 above referred to is mounted witlrfreedom for limited transverse bodily movement and axial and end-,

wise rocking movement in a vertically-extending transverse slot 32 formed n thedepending-lug'21 ofthe barrel unit intermedi ate the ends thereof.

For the purpose of preventing the endwise displacement of the bar 27 I form the same with a diametrical passage33 for the reception of a guide-pin 34 which it freely fits.

- T he said guide-pin extends vertically through the slot 32 and is formed at its lower end with an enlarged threaded head 35 which is screwed into an internally-threaded vertical bore 36 opening through the under-face of the said lug 21. I I

The upper and major portion of the pas- .sage 33 aforeseid'is enlarged to form a pocket 37 for the reception of a helical'spring 38 encircling the guide-pin 34 and seating at its upper end against the top wall of the slot 32 and at its opposite end against the bottom wall'of the pocket37, as clearly shown in Fig. 30f the drawings. The upper end of the pin 34;is seated in. a bore 39 arranged, axially inline with the threaded bore 36 and extending upward from the upper wall of the slot 32, which it intersects. f

. The over-all length of; the-floating barrelstop-bar 27- above described is greater than the width of the lug 21,so that its opposite ends project beyond the opposite faces of the latter and are entered into inclined clearancegagement by the stop-shoulders 30 and 31 respejctively of the, floating barrel-st0p-bari27 grooves 40 and 41 formed in the side-walls of the slot 12 inthe extension .11 of .the framebody1 0.- R

-The clearance-grooves 40 and 41 intersect the upper surface of the body-extension 1 1 and slope forwardly and downwardly therefrom, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the draw.-

ings, so that their respective upper walls constitute abutment-shoulders 42 and 43 for ento limit the breakdown .HIOVEHIGIlt of the barrel-unit with respect to the frame-body. 10. Normally and as-shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lug 210i the barrel-unit is housed within the vertical slot 12 in the bodyextension 11 and the respective opposite ends of the bar 27 positioned in the inclined clear: ance-groo-ves 40 and 41. V 1

Now when the barrel-unit is unlocked" in any approved manner and swung downward into the position shown in Fig. 2- of the draw-t ings the stop-shoulders 3O and 31 of the bar 27, will be brought into engagement with the abutment-shoulders 42aandj43 in the side-.

walls'of theslot 12-and owing. to' the fact that the bar 27 is mounted Withfcapacity for both axial and endwise rocking movement,any'irregularities of the positioning or formation of the abutment-shoulders 42 and 43 or the stop-shoulders 30 and 31 will be automatically compensated for, so that wear will be minimized and the barrel-unit checked in its breakdown movement at the same angle throughout "along period ofuse.

By Pr ding fo th c mpe a y, en

"of the floating barrel-stop-bar 27 as above "described, the effect of the battering action incident to the repeated engagement of the stop-shoulders 30 and 31 with the abut-3 merit-shoulders 42 and 43 is so minimized that sition of the-same (Fig. 1) to itsbroken- I down position (Fig. 2).

The spring 39, by tending to maintain the bar 27 in-the bottom of the slot 32, serves to facilitate the reentry of the ends of the said bar into the grooves 40 and 41 when the frameand barrel-units are-being reassem-. bled after being taken downi I claim: V

1. In a breakdown firearm, the combina tion with the relatively-pivotedframeeunit and the barrel-unit thereof; of abarrel-stope member carried by the said barrel-unit with capacity for endwise rockingv movement with respect thereto and a pair of complementary abutments carried-by. the said frame-unit in. position to be engaged-by the-opposite ends of the'said' stop-member;uwhereby the engagement of'the opposite ends ofthe. said ments in the frame-unit is-insured. j

2. In a breakdowafirearm, the combination with the relatively-pivoted. frame-unit and the barrel-unit thereof; .of a, barrel-.'

stop ememben carried by the said barrel-unit with capacity for both axial and endwise stop-membenwith both'Tof the said abut rocking movement with respect thereto; and

a pair of complementary abut-mentscarried; by the said frame-unit .in position to be". en-

gaged by the oppositeendsofthe said stop-. member; wherebythe engagement of the opposite'ends of the saidistopmember with both ,of the said abutments in the frameunitis insured.

3. "In a breakdown iirearm. the 'combin'a- I tion with the relativelyspivoted frame-unit and the barrelunit thereof ;"of a barre1-stopmember carried by the said barrel unit with capacity for lateral bodily movement and both endwise and axial rocking movement with respect thereto; and a pair of complementary abutments carried by the said frame-unit in position to be engaged by the opposite ends of the said stop-member; whereby the engagement of the opposite ends of the said stop-member with both of.

thereof; of a floating barrel-stop carried by the said lug and coacting with the said frame-body to limit the breakdown movement.

6. In a breakdown firearm, the combination with the relatively-pivoted frame-unit and barrel-unit thereof; of a lug offsetting from the said barrel-unit near the rear end thereof; a barrel-stop-bar carried by the said lug with capacity for endwise rocking move ment with respect thereto; and a pair of complementary abutments carried by the frameunit in position to be engaged by the opposite ends of the said rocking stop-bar; whereby the engagement of the opposite ends of the said stop-bar with both the two said abutments in the frame is insured.

7. In a breakdown firearm, the combination with the relatively-pivoted frame-unit and barrel-unit thereof; of a lug offsetting from the said barrel-unit near the rear end thereof and formed with a transverse passage; a barrel-stop-bar extending transversely through the passage in the said lug with capacity for endwise compensatory rocking movement therein; and a pair of complementary abutments carried by the frame-unit in position to be engaged by the opposite ends of the said rocking stop-bar; whereby the engagement of the opposite ends of the said stop-bar with both the two said abutments in the body-unit is insured.

8. In a breakdown firearm, the combination with the relatively-pivoted frame-unit and barrel-unit thereof; of a lug ofisetting from the said barrel-unit near the rear end thereof; a barrel-stop-bar carried by the said lug with capacity for both axial and endwise rocking movement with respect thereto and provided at its opposite ends respectively with a fiat upwardly-facing stop-surface;

and a pair of complementary abutmentshoulders carried by the frame-unit and positioned to beengaged by the stop-surfaces of the said stop-bar.

9. In a breakdown firearm, the combination with the relatively-pivoted frame-unit and barrel-unit thereof; of a lug offsetting from the said barrel-unit near the rear end thereof; a barrel-stop-bar carried by the said lug with capacity for lateral bodily movement and endwise and axial rocking movement with respect thereto and provided at its opposite ends respectively with a flat upwardly-facing stop-surface; and a pair of complementary abutments carried by the frame-unit and positioned to be engaged by the stop-surfaces of the said stop-bar.

10. In a breakdown firearm, the combination with the relatively-pivoted frame unit and barrel-unit thereof; of a lug offsetting from the said barrel-unit near the rear end thereof and formed with a verticallyextending transverse slot; a barrel-stop-bar extending transversely through the slot in the said lug with capacity for lateral bodily movement therein; a spring arranged to normally hold the said bar in the bottom-portion of the slot in the said lug; and a pair of complementary abutments carried by the said frame-unit in position to be engaged by the opposite ends ofthe said rocking stop-bar.

11. In a breakdown firearm, the combination with the relatively-pivoted fra1ne-unit and barrel-unit thereof; of a lug offsetting from the said barrel-unit near the rear end thereof and formed with a vertically-extending transverse slot; a barrel-stop-bar extending transversely through the passage in the said lug with capacity for lateral bodily movement therein; a vertically-arranged pin engaging the said bar to prevent its endwise displacement; a spring encircling the said pin and arranged to normally hold the said bar in the bottom-portion of the slot in the said lug; and a pair of complementary abutments carried by the said frame-unit in position to be engaged by the opposite ends of the said rocking stop-bar. V r

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

FRANK F. BURTON. 

